I am glad you are planning an escape from your head today. I think we all need to do this more often. I would have to agree with the shrink, now is not likely the best time to be starting new relationships. My shrink is very against me hanging out with others with mental health issues for the reasons you stated, they can bring you down and you can take on their problems. I am guessing you unknowingly took on his problems and that is what made you sad. Maybe it trigger you a bit and that is why you are feeling this way? But I do not believe for a minute that you are bringing people down, that is the scared PTSD talking.

If you were able to use this time to work on yourself I feel you would find a much healthier relationship down the road. Just my 2 cents worth, but I am certainly not a relationship expert. You have a lot on your plate with PTSD and a divorce, another relationship now is only going to create additional stress.

I think you are on the right track. Make today about self-care and having fun. Do something special for you. Please take care of yourself and keep meeting new FRIENDS. It is important to build a good support network.

Have a good vacation from inside your head. Yeah, new relationships are poison when you're in an unstable situation---

I was 10 the first time my mom told me, and I quote, "YOu don't need a man to be a person." (And she repeated that a lot.) So focus on you, the person who is you, that you want to be you, and the rest comes as it may.

Gentle puurs, and celebrate YOU today:-)

Escape from your head is good. Yesterday, I took my dog out for a walk and got some sunshine as someone suggested and it helped a lot. Taking a drive, watching a movie that doesn't trigger me, listening to soothing music, all good.

You don't need a man to feel good about yourself. You are still very young and have lots of time to find someone. Everyday you are on your own, you will become stronger and believe you are okay by yourself and gain confidence. As Dr. Phil always said (insert roll eyes here)...."I'd rather be alone than with someone who is unhealthy". Hugs, JP

I was married a very long time and I have to tell you it takes a lot of courage to know and be able to take that step away from an unhealthy relationship and to be around people who understand you.

It was very hard for me to not want to jump into something else if only for comfort but I didn't and now a long time later I am still single and liking it a lot. Not to say I should not get out there, I move slow. I think it is normal for us to gravitate to people who give us what we are missing but I think its important we give ourselves what we need too. To be lonely is going to happen when we are alone but it can happen when we are in the wrong relationship too. Take your time for you.

Good idea to escape your thoughts today :)

My absolute favoritest thing --no close seconds-- about menopause is that it cured my hyper-sexuality. Sorta. I can still make a porn director blush with my blunt handling of sex dialogue and several other sets of etceteras, but since menopause the lips on my face are the only lips with anything to say. FREEDOM!!! Hyper-sexuality is a tough beast to keep in its cage. Tougher than cancer, ebola virus or whateveritis.

My husband sure had/has solid grounds for divorce. Adulteratous Absurdicus. When he kept refusing to get a lawyer, I nearly did the job for him. Nearly. The only thing that stopped me was that I like Legal Waiting Rooms even less than I like Medical Waiting Rooms. Instead I left the paperwork at the courthouse as it was and just wandered off to find help. I discovered support groups, among other things.

You said, "I know for a fact I'll end up alienating them in the end anyway."

You are stealing my line, Cants. Verbatim. I used it allot in my hyper-sexual days. It is still a flag which pops into my head from time to time. I believe it has been years since it has popped out of my mouth. The label I have placed on this particular flag is, "Reject Before You Can Be Rejected." It is my number one isolating mechanism.

Just personal rambling.

Hope you found some good things in your escape from my head day. There is a big, amazing world outside my head. I try to visit as often as I can.

You wrote, "I'm lonely and need attention." That's the thing that sticks out the most for me, dx, or no dx...

Until you can learn to love yourself and be okay being alone, you ought not to bring another person into the mix.

Until 4 years ago, I had always been part of a couple my whole life since age 15. It's as if it was my duty or something, regardless of my own personal growth needs. Four years ago I called it quits, and I've really made up for lost time in the personal growth area coming here.

While I have been with my Hubby for almost 25 years (counting dating) and over that if you count friendship? ...
It has been a very supportive thing, more or less, over the years---but not without troubles. We separated once. For many months. It was needed for us both.

And sometimes, total separation via divorce is required. It's okay to need that space and time.

Thanks guys. I really like the man I met and adores me, so I told him we had to cool it and really learn from our past relationships. When we both become stable, we will see how things go. He's understanding and has told me "You're too beautiful inside and out to feel damaged. You're brave and pretty damned awesome!"
May just be a friend for life, but he won't let me push him away.